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Polymer Chemistry Commons

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The University of Maine

Polyester

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Full-Text Articles in Polymer Chemistry

Functionalized 𝜹-Hexalactones (Fdhls): Bio-Derivable Monomers To Synthesize Renewable Polyester Thermoplastics, Atik Faysal Mar 2022

Functionalized 𝜹-Hexalactones (Fdhls): Bio-Derivable Monomers To Synthesize Renewable Polyester Thermoplastics, Atik Faysal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Most thermoplastics are made from limited fossil-fuel sources and these plastics have very deleterious impacts on the environment. Finding a renewable source to synthesize new thermoplastic polymers with tunable properties like biodegradability, heat resistance, and moisture resistance are ongoing research interests. Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising renewable feedstock for biobased monomers and polymers production. In this work, functionalized 𝛿-hexalactone (FDHL) monomers are hypothesized to be synthesizable from lignocellulosic sourced hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) and lignin-derived pendant groups, generating a variety of aliphatic polyesters and potentially overcome current polymer challenges. Achieving a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) is one of …


Biomass Based Monomers For Synthesis Of Renewably Sourced Polymers, Anushka E. Vithanage Aug 2018

Biomass Based Monomers For Synthesis Of Renewably Sourced Polymers, Anushka E. Vithanage

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Limited fossil resources have raised research focus on synthesizing novel, sustainable polymers and renewably sourcing existing petroleum based polymers. This work presents the synthesis and ring opening polymerization (ROP) of a new functionalized lactone monomer, methoxy-δ-hexalactone (MDHL), to yield a functionalized polyester (polyMDHL). MDHL can be renewably sourced from hydroxymethylfurfural, a renewable platform chemical. MDHL was synthesized from methyl cyclopentanone-2-carboxylate by a five-step synthesis with a global yield of 23%. ROP of MDHL was conducted with benzyl alcohol initiator, catalyzed by diphenyl phosphate. 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy verified polyMDHL chemical structure. Targeting higher molecular weights for polyMDHL by increasing …